Arsenal sit pretty in the Premier League – and are now Europe’s top dogs

Arsenal have set the pace in the Premier League and are doing likewise in the Champions League as they kept up their perfect record to see off Bayern Munich at the Emirates

They have already stormed clear at the top of the Premier League. And now Arsenal are top dogs in the Champions League as they ended Bayern Munich ’s unbeaten start to their season.

It was one hell of a statement win and performance as they blew Bayern away to go clear at the top of the Champions League table after five straight wins. They were just too good as Arsenal revelled in a big European night at the Emirates as they battered Bayern’s leaky and vulnerable defence.

It was typified by Declan Rice’s masterclass as the England midfielder absolutely dominated the game and enjoyed every minute of what must go down as one of his very best displays since joining Arsenal for £105m.

No wonder the Arsenal fans chant: “Declan Rice – we got him half price.” And they shouted even louder when Rice flew into a tackle on Bayern’s former Tottenham captain Harry Kane and turned to the crowd to whip them up.

It was definitely not Kane’s night because it belonged to Rice and Arsenal’s Pom squad because it was Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli who scored the second half goals after coming on as substitutes.

READ MORE: Arsenal evolution in full swing as Mikel Arteta rolls the dice to down Bayern MunichREAD MORE: Bayern furious reaction to goal speaks volumes after ‘clever’ trick from Arsenal star

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta must have winced when yet another player, Leandro Trossard, went down in the first half and limped off to join the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz on the injury list. But Madueke and Martinelli stepped up and took their chances and that has been the story of Arsenal’s season in the Premier League title race as well.

When they lose players, they have the depth and quality to find solutions. Plus they also have players ready and willing to take their chances. Arsenal were terrific and dominated Bayern to also show they are potential winners in this competition because Arteta is building something really special.

They also exposed Bayern who, despite their impressive start to the campaign, do leak goals and looked as if they might concede every time a ball went into the box.

You really thought a team managed by former Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany might be able to defend better but they have now conceded five goals from set-pieces in their last five games.

Arsenal took the 22nd minute lead when Bukayo Saka swung over a near post corner and there was Jurrien Timber to glance home inside the far post. Arsenal have now scored ten goals from corners in all competitions this season which is the most from any side in Europe’s top five leagues.

But Arsenal’s lead lasted just ten minutes. And, sadly, Myles Lewis-Skelly was exposed defensively on a rare start which was even more of a shame because England boss Thomas Tuchel was watching from the stands.

Joshua Kimmich’s long ball picked out Serge Gnabry and his perfect cross found teenager Lennart Karl to guide it home. Incredibly, Germany under-21 starlet Karl, aged 17 years and 277 days, became the youngest player to score against Arsenal in the Champions League.

Trossard went off. Arteta was booked as his frustration boiled over. The same for Kompany and Arsenal began too batter Bayern after half time but just could not find a way through. Mikel Merino went close. Bayern looked so shaky. But Arsenal did not have to wait much longer.

Rice won the ball in the 70th minute. Riccardo Calafiori, on for Lewis-Skelly, charged down the left and sent over a low cross which Madueke turned home. It was a lovely moment for Madueke who arrived in the summer for £55m and has won over the Arsenal fans in great style. He is just coming back from injury himself but looks sharp ahead of a return to his former club Chelsea on Sunday.

Then after 77 minutes, Bayern were pressing for a leveller. But Arsenal broke forward. Eberechi Eze played it forward and Martinelli raced through, controlled the ball and his touch took it past keeper Manuel Neuer and he side footed into an empty net.

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